Method and apparatus for aircraft logging



June 3, 1969 w. H. RocK 3,447,762

. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT LOGGING Filed June 24. 1968 FIG.

sheet INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Julie 3, 1969 W. H. ROCK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT LOGGING Filed June 24. 1968 Q l l l Fue. 3 40 Mob l 40a I 35 ,I A G /73 N I t f 66 iov v F IG. 4 220 46 22a -36 f l g 7o i @e E14 FIG. 5

INVENTOK IlO /l WILLIAM H. ROCK l. u NT. Hyg mm1 O @mi ATTORNEY United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 244--17.17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for logging is provided using an autogiro and having powered winch means at a log dump area connected to the autogiro by a line for pulling the autogiro with a load of logs from a cutting area. The autogiro has means for lifting a log load under its own power at the cutting area and is capable of being pulled rearward to the log dump area under power of the winch whereby it is substantially maintained in flight by pulling forces imparted by the winch. The autogiro returns with the line to the cutting area under its own power. For the above purpose, the autogiro has rotor blades driven by jets on the ends of the blades to accomplish the load lifting function and has a propeller to drive it in its return movement. The aircraft also has air pickup means to utilize forced air from the propeller to assist in driving the rotor. The rotor blades of the autogiro have a resilient cushion connection with the aircraft to permit the blades to pivot a short distance forward or rearward or up or down. Arm means are connected between adjacent rotor blades to anchor the latter against rotation on their longitudinal axes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 570,955, filed Aug. 8, 1966, now abandoned, by William H. Rock, for Method and Apparatus for Aircraft Logging.

This invention relates to a new and novel apparatus for autogiro logging.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which utilizes an autogiro for lifting a log or tree vertically from a logging site or pile and transporting the same with the assistance of power winch means to a selected site such as a log dump.

A more particular object is to provide a novel combhiation of structure wherein an autogiro is adapted to have movement to and from a logging site with the assistance of power winch means, for accomplishing a logging operation.

Another object is to provide autogiro structure which has rotor means together with novel drive means for the rotor, such drive means comprising jet motors at the outer ends of the rotor together with an auxiliary drive for the rotor comprising air pickup means from a propeller on the aircraft.

Yet another object is to provide an autogiro having a novel supporting connection of its rotors wherein said rotors have universal self adjusting movement.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the device.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is an elevational View of a logging operation employing the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of autogiro structure utilized in the present system of logging;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view ice taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing details of the autogiro rotor;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of structure shown in FIGURE 3 with a portion thereof in section;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of rotor structure taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view also of rotor structure.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and rstto FIGURE l, the present logging system has its novelty primarily in the combination of a conventional winch 10 and an autogiro 12. The winch 10 has the usual power plant 14 and a winch drum 16 for hauling in and letting out a line 18, and for the present purpose is readily portable from place to place.

The autogiro 12 has a fuselage 17 supporting both a conventional propeller 20 for driving the autogiro horizontally and a rotor 22 providing vertical lift therefor. The autogiro has a lifting line 24 connected to a winch 26 therein, and the lifting line has a choker assembly 28 for releasable attachment to logs 30.

In a system of logging it is desired to move logs 30 from a pickup or growing site 32 to an unloading or dump site 34, these two sites generally being spaced a substantial distance apart and obviously separated by wooded and rough terrain. By means of the present invention, logs 30 are transported from the pickup site 32 to the unloading site 34.

In the method of logging, the autogiro first pulls the line 18 from the winch 16 at the unloading site 34 to the pickup site 32, such being accomplished by a combination of lifting and pulling power from the rotor 22, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, and the propeller 20. With the autogiro hovering over the logging site, the lifting line 24 is lowered and a log connected thereo. Thereupon, the winch 26 is operated to remove slack to the log and at the same time power to the rotor 22 is increased to lift the autogiro and log. The propeller 20 at this time is inoperative since its primary function is to move the autogiro and pull line 18 from the unloading site to the logging site. Once the log has been raised above the treetops, the autogiro is returned to the unloading site 34 as will now be more fully described.

Movement of the autogiro and load from a pickup site 32 lto an unloading `site 34 is accompli-shed primarily by intake of line 18 on the winch d-rurn 16. That is, when the :autogiro has lifted |a log 30 clear of fthe standing trees, the line 18 is hauled in to ily t-he autogiro backward-s to the unloading site. In this regard, 4it is desired that the winch 16 have -a lsufficient pull-in speed for the line 18 such that line 18 serves las la lreverse propeller to pull :the autogiro rearwardly, and upon developing suflicien-t haul-in speed some or all of the jet power to the rotor 22, to Ibe ydescribed can be turned off. As 'the speed of 'the lhaul-in line 18 is reduced, namely as the :autogiro 'approaches the unloading site 34, it will be necessary to increase the power to the -rotor 22 -to maintain the autogiro airborne. The log is then lowered `to the unloading .site 34 and released from the lifting line 24 by suitable trip mean-s associated Awith the choker |assembly 28, whereupon the autogiro with line 18 can then lbe llown to the logging site under the power of propeller 20 with the yroltoi 22 being loperated lby minimum power or none at `all Iafter the 'autogiro has lstarted moving. The |autogiro is operate-d by a pilot therein, :and this pil-ot is in communication, as by radio, with the winch operator and others on the ground as necessary,

By means of the present system of logging, l-ogs are Ilifted directly upwardly `and are not dragged along the ground as in conventional logging. Thus, the valu-able ground cover such as lsmall trees, underbruish, moss, root liber, and `animals are not destroyed or disturbed.

Fui-ther details of the aut-ogiro which contribute to the desired oper-ation thereof will now be described. Such `an `au'togiro includes an upright housing 36, FIGURES 3 and 4, having a top a-perture 37 through which projects a hollow rotor supporting post 38. This post has journ-aled support in the housing 36 by upper and lower bearings 40. Upper 'bearings .40 comprises a cup-like bracket 40a secured to the post 38 interiorly of the hous- -ing 36 a short distance below the top of the housing. This 'bracket forms `a seat =ior a resilient inser-t 40b abutted against lthe lower surface of the top of the housing and provid-ing a journaled engagement of the upper end of the post 38 and the housing 36, it Ibeing understood that the insert 40b is constructed of a friction -free material such as nylon or the like. The resilience of the insert 40h may be the result of the resilience of the material itself =or as shown the insert may be hollow -to provide an air cushion. The insert norm-ally maintains the post cente-red in `the aperture 37 but due to its resi'lience will permit tilting of said post.

Lower bearing 40 is of any :suitable conventional construction and is secured in a clamp bracket 41 `at the lower end of the post. Attached to the bracket 41 4is a push-pull rod 42 connected to operating means, not shown, which m-ay comprise a fluid operated cylinder for example. By means of the push-pull rod 42, the post 38 may be tilted forwardly or rearwardly, as designated -by the arrow 44 in FIGURE 4, and it is 'to 'be understood that similar tilting means, not shown, may also be :attached to the clamp bracket tor tilting the post sideways.

The upper end of rotor supporting post 38 has four equally spaced lateral extensions 46 for supporting the rotor blades 22a. The rotor blades 22o are hollow in construction and preferably are oval-shaped in cross section as shown in FIGURE 5. The ends of the blades 22a which -a-re connected to the lateral extensions 46 have end walls 4S provided with apertures 50 for receiving an end portion of said extensions. Supported on the end portions of the extensions 46 which project into the rotor blades and conned between end walls 48 'and tian-ged end portions 56 of the extensions 46 are resilient cushions 54. Cushions `54 may be solid in construction, or as shown, may comprise air-lilled cushions. They provide resilient attachment of the rotor blades 22a to the post 38 or more particularly they permit the blades to pivot a short distance forward or rearwardly or up or down, as is desired for rotor blades in a rotor-type au'togiro.

The lateral extensions 46 preferably are oval-shaped, FIGURE 5, to conform substantially to the shape ofthe base of the rotor blades 22a, and therefore 'the resilient cushions 54 yalso assume an ova-l shape to fit suitably between these ltwo members. It is to be understood that the cross sectional shape of the lateral extensions 46 may be round rather than oval-shaped as shown if the shape of the rotor blades Warrant such.

The principal driving power for the rotor comprises jet engines 60 mounted at the ends of the rotor blades. These jet engines 'are of conventional construction .and fuel therefor is ffed through lines 62, FIGURES 3 and 4, leading upwardly :through the hollow rotor supporting post 38 'and extending through the lateral extensions 46 yand the hollow rotor blades 22a. Fuel 'lines 62 lead from a suitable iuel tank, not shown, in the autogiro. Jet engines 60 provide thrust in 'the direction of arrows 63, FIGURE 2, to rotate the rotor -in the direction of arrow 63a, such driven direction of rotation being the same as the autorotative direction of rotation. In other words, the rotor `always turns in the same direction regardless of whether the .autogiro is traveling forward or reverse. The rotor will also turn in the same direc-tion when the autogiro moves up or down.

Since the connection of the rotor blades 22a on the lateral extensions 46 would permit rotation of the blades thereon, |arms 76, FIGURES 2 and 6, are provided between the blades to prevent such rotation. These arms are connected at one of their ends :to a blade, by means of a yoke 78 on the larm and -pins 80 von the blades pivotvally :receiving the yoke, and at -t-heir other end to a trailing blade by means of a slidable connection in a socket 82 provided in a projection 84. As seen, an arm 76 extends from each rotor 'blade for slidable connection in a respective socket 82. Arms 76 serve to lanchor the 'rotor blades against lfree rotation on the extensions 46 but 4in view of the pivotal connection on the pins 80 on the one 'bl-ade as well :as :the s'lidable connection in the socket on the following blade, the blades can pivot forwardly or rearwardly a small amount, with relation to the direction of rotation of the rotor, independent of adjacent blades. The blades can also tilt up and down a small lamount but will have no appreciable elect on the operation of adjacent blades.

As a part of the present invention, it is also desired to utilize airflow from the propeller 20 to assist in driving the rotor of the autogiro. For this purpose, the sides of the fuselage 17 are provided with scoops 64 for catching air from the propeller and directing such air to the rotors. More particularly, conduits 66, FIGURES 3 and 4, lead from the air scoops 64 to the interior of rotor supporting post 38, and air which is forced through the conduits is adapted to be discharged through nozzles 68, FIGURE 2, adjacent the tip ends of the rotor blades. These nozzles are directed rearwardly whereby air forcefully discharged therefrom will produce forward rotation of the rotor. The connection of the conduit 66 with the rotor supporting post 38 is bestv shown in FIGURE 3. In such connection, the conduit 66 is integrated with a circular housing 70 which is apertured to rotatably receive the post 38 and which encloses apertures 72 in said post. Housing 70 has a rotatable connection with the post 38 by means of a pair of annular flanges 73 secured to said post and rotatably engaged by the housing in a substantially air-tight t. Thus, air forced through the conduit 66 is transferred into the post 38 and such air moves outwardly into the rotor blades, as indicated by the arrows 74, and thence to the nozzles 68.

Thus, in the operation of the autogiro for the movement of logs, the jet engines 60 are utilized for the principal lifting power, but at certain times, the trapped air entering the air scoops 64 will serve to assist in driving the rotor.

In accordance with the invention a new system of logging is employed, with the autogiro structure described and illustrated functioning as preferred structure for carrying out the said system of logging. That is, the use of a propeller 20 serves to return the autogiro and line 18 rapidly from the unloading area 34 to the loading area 32. Also, the structure of the rotor blades 22a FIGURE 5, which comprise autogiro blades, produces great lifting power for the autogiro as it is being pulled rearwardly by the cable 18. The autogiro blades are driven by the jets 60 on the ends thereof as necessary, and not by a power plant within the plane. By this structure, the characteristics of an autogiro are maintained since no turning or twisting forces are applied to the body of the aircraft when power is applied by the jets, as distinguished from helicopters. Similarly, the blades are capable of turning freely when the power is oi, again without reaction to the body of the autogiro. The autogiro can be pulled forwardly by the propeller and can be pulled rearwardly by the line 18, the operation of the autogiro being identical in either direction in that the rotor operates in the same direction whether the autogiro moves in said forward or rearward directions. Thus, when the autogiro is pulled rearwardly by the line 18, it will remain airborne, assuming of course that the line 18 is hauled in with sucient speed to keep the autogiro airborne with its load.

A logging operation can be accomplished effectively for a considerable radius around a central area, and such operation can be carried out over substantially any type of terrain. Also, logs can be removed without any substantial disturbance to the ground cover. The power plant and its fuel, namely, the winch and its fuel, for pulling the autogiro back to the log dump are on the ground and not in the autogiro. In such arrangement winch 10 and its fuel supply do not consume any of the lift of the autogiro, thus allowing greater load to be carried by said autogiro.

It may be necessary to tilt the post 38 in order that the 'blades 22a will achieve the proper angle in reverse. Such tilting function is accomplished by the push-pull rod 4Z.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred exa-mple for carrying out the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, the invention may be carried out in steps wherein more than one pair of loading and unloading sites are employed. That is, if the distance between the loading and unloading sites is too far for the feasible operation of the winch 10 and line 18, more than one set of loading and unloading sites and winches 10 may be employed and the logs transferred step by step from the woods to the nal point of loading. Also, it is to be understood that the autogiro apparatus may have a double rotor yfor greater lifting power. Furthermore, the line 18 may be connected to points adjacent the rearward end of the autogiro other than shown on the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for moving logs from a cutting area to a log dump area comprising:

(a) an aircraft having a fuselage with forward and rearward ends,

(b) means suspended from said aircraft for connection to a load of logs,

(c) autogiro blades on said aircraft rotatable on a vertical axis and arranged to lift the aircraft and a log load vertically at the cutting area and also arranged to be autorotative to substantially mainain the aircraft and load airborne Without power when the aircraft is pulled longitudinally at a selected speed,

(d) power drive means on said autogiro blades for rotating the same,

(e) propeller means on said aircraft for propelling said aircraft forwardly,

(f) power drive means for rotating said propeller means,

(g) a line connected at one of its ends to the rearward end of said aircraft,

(h) and powered winch means connected to the other end of the line and arranged to be anchored in a fixed position on the ground,

(i) said winch means being arranged to pull the loaded aircraft rearwardly through the air from the cutting area to the log dump area at a speed such that the autogiro blades will maintain the aircraft airborne with substantially no power from the power drive means on the rotor blades and propeller,

'(j) said aircraft being arranged under its own power to return from the log dump area to the cutting area while pulling out the line from said winch means.

2. The logging apparatus of claim 1 wherein (a) said aircraft has an upstanding post for said rotor blades with a lateral extension for each of said blades,

(b) one end of said rotor blades being hollow and receiving in overlapping connecting relation respective ones of said lateral extensions,

(c) vertical shoulder means on the ends of each of the overlapping ends of said lateral extensions and said rotor blades,

(d) and an air filled, annular cushion disposed between the said shoulders of said lateral extensions and said rotor blades to permit adjustable movement of said blades relative to the horizontal as well as in the plane of rotation of the blades.

3. The logging apparatus of claim 1 wherein (a) said aircraft has an upstanding post for said rotor blades having a lateral extension for each of said blades,

(b) an overlapping connection between said extensions and their respective rotor blades,

(c) vertical shoulder means on the ends of each of the overlapping ends of said lateral extensions and said rotor blades,

(d) and an air filled annular cushion disposed between the said shoulders of said lateral extensions i said rotor blades to permit flexing movement of said blades relative to said extensions,

(e) and means connected between adjacent ones of said blades to anchor the latter against rotation on their longitudinal axes.

4. The logging apparatus of claim 1 wherein (a) said rotor blades have an internal longitudinal passageway,

(b) an upstanding hollow post on said aircraft supporting said blades and having its interior in communication with the passageways in said blades,

(c) means defining outlet jet apertures from said passageways adjacent to the outer ends of said blades arranged to impart a rotative force to said rotor upon the ejection of forced air from said apertures,

(d) air scoop means on said aircraft to catch air from said propeller,

(e) and means establishing communication between said air scoop means and the interior of said post whereby forced air from said propeller is directed to said jet apertures.

5. The logging apparatus of claim 1 including (a) an upstanding post on said aircraft having a lateral extension for each of said blades,

(b) an overlapping connection between said extensions and their respective rotor blades,

(c) an air lilled, annular cushion disposed between the overlapping portions of each of said lateral extensions and said rotor blades to permit flexing movement of said blades relative to said extensions,

(d) an ann pivotally connected at one of its ends to one of said rotor blades,

(e) and means defining a socket in another of said rotor blades which is adjacent said one of said rotor blades,

(f) said socket means slidably receiving the other end of said arm,

(g) said arm and socket means being arranged to anchor said rotor blades against rotation on their longitudinal axes on their respective lateral extensions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,009 1/1929 Isacco 170-135.21 2,429,502 10/ 1947 Young 244-154 2,433,344 12/ 1947 Crosby. 2,631,680 3/1953 Le Compte et al. 170-16053 2,647,770 8/1953 Tollefsbol 277-173 2,710,067 6/ 1955 Sforza Del Pesaro 170-135.4 2,818,122 12/1957 Johnston 17o-135.4 3,211,429 10/1965 Steward 258-14 3,231,222 1/1966 Scheutzow 244-17.19 3,236,544 2/ 1966 Brown 285-97 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. PAUL E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. -160.53; 2581.4 

